He was nearly at the door of the sitting-room when Mrs. Eustace, having heard his voice, reached the passage.
"Ah," he exclaimed. "I want to talk to you. Just come in here, will you?"
He held the door open for her and waited till she passed in. Then he followed and closed the door.
"Just excuse me one minute," he said as he remained standing by the door which he suddenly flung open again.
"I thought so," he cried, as he saw Bessie in the passage. "You clear out of it. What I've got to say to Mrs. Eustace don't concern you, nor Jim the barman. Do you hear?"
Bessie heard, and scurried.
"It's only fair to tell you," he said, turning to Mrs. Eustace, "that what that girl sees and hears here goes to Jim the barman who, if you don't know it, tells Soden, and Soden tells the town. You understand?"
He limped across the room and sat down.
"I've come in to tell you something," he went on. "When I got here I heard the news. But that makes no difference to what I had to tell you. I can still tell you. But I must say something else first. You wouldn't stay on at Taloona when I asked you, but that was your business. Now this has come to you. I'm no hand at talking sympathy, but if you want anything that I can get for you it's yours—you understand?"
He leaned forward, with his hands on his knees, looking her steadily in the face.